Palmer Shoots 69 for Share of Lead : Golf: Jacklin has miserable day at Senior British Open with 81, disqualification in his senior debut.

Arnold Palmer shot a three-under 69 in the Senior British Open on Wednesday and was tied for the first-round lead with Liam Higgins of Ireland and Alberto Croce of Italy.

Palmer was six under par over the last 13 holes, making an eagle at the par-five 15th using a driver and one-iron.

Palmer, 64, left the press tent at the U.S. Open last month in tears after shooting rounds of 77 and 81. Many thought he was seriously contemplating giving up competitive golf, but two weeks off and a solid opening round at Royal Lytham and St Annes seemed to have changed that.

“I had the grandchildren with me for a week, I swam every day, hit a few balls in the afternoons and had some early nights,” Palmer told the Times of London. “I guess it has done me some good.

“I was not very confident when I came over here, but something just happened when I made a good contact on the fifth hole. Suddenly it felt better and now I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Palmer was three over when he reached the fifth, having birdied No. 1 before making double-bogey on No. 2 and bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4.

The fifth was nothing remarkable--a five-iron to 30 feet and two putts for a par--but it sent Palmer on his way.

Things certainly didn’t go as smoothly for Tony Jacklin, who was disqualified in his senior debut for signing an incorrect scorecard. Jacklin won the British Open on the same course 25 years ago.

Jacklin signed for a four at No. 13, when he had actually made five.

He thought the low point of his round had been when he took an eight at the par-five 11th after his ball rebounded onto his chest as he tried to escape from a greenside bunker.

He was uncertain of the penalty, but after some discussion it was agreed it should be two strokes. Jacklin completed his round in 81.

“With all the trouble I had at the 11th, and getting the penalty for that sorted out, I hadn’t checked my card closely enough,” he said.

Palmer was sympathetic.

“What’s happened to Tony is too bad,” he said. “It does happen occasionally. I think he was just a little despondent about his round.”